Network Switches

mep

mep

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For those of you that are deep into the digital forest and are using a switch in your network, I'm curious to know if everyone is using "audiophile" switches or if some people are using commercial switches. If you are using a switch, is it a managed switch or unmanaged switch? If you are using a managed switch, can you tell us what is involved in the initial software setup and if you have to "manage" the switch after the initial setup?
 
mep said:
For those of you that are deep into the digital forest and are using a switch in your network, I'm curious to know if everyone is using "audiophile" switches or if some people are using commercial switches. If you are using a switch, is it a managed switch or unmanaged switch? If you are using a managed switch, can you tell us what is involved in the initial software setup and if you have to "manage" the switch after the initial setup?
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here is more info on network switches than you will ever need.

Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Creme de la Creme | What's Best Audio and Video Forum. The Best High End Audio Forum on the planet!

Emile who did that compare is who designed my server, the Taiko Extreme. he is in the final stages of designing his own switch that will be narrowly optimized for the Extreme server. i know nothing about network switches, i wait for Emile to tell me it's time to make a network change and then just follow his instructions.
 
Apparently going big for fiber? Which I believe is also is MSB's optimal connection scheme?
 
rbbert said:
Apparently going big for fiber? Which I believe is also is MSB's optimal connection scheme?
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my favorite sounding digital interface for my MSB Select II is the MSB Pro USB box which includes a fibre length and input modules on the dac. i also have the MSB Renderer v2 which i don't like as much. i can't say everyone is in the same boat. since my Extreme server is optimized for the USB output this is best for my situation.

mep said:
Are you referring to Taiko?
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Taiko has been doing lots of things; they are building their own network switch and have created their own music management alternative to Roon. up till now i think they have been on the fence whether fibre or copper network is better and mostly liked a combination of both. but now they are leaning toward fibre if i'm reading it right.

personally have fibre and copper between my dac and server, then all fibre between my server and switch, then all copper after that, then broadband fibre into my home.
 
Mike Lavigne said:
my favorite sounding digital interface for my MSB Select II is the MSB Pro USB box which includes a fibre length and input modules on the dac. i also have the MSB Renderer v2 which i don't like as much. i can't say everyone is in the same boat. since my Extreme server is optimized for the USB output this is best for my situation.
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Hi Mike,

I’m glad that you recognize a large portion of why the Pro USB sounds so much better than the Renderer V2 for those who own the Taiko Extreme server is because the Extreme’s performance is optimized for USB.

Best,
Ken
 
mep said:
For those of you that are deep into the digital forest and are using a switch in your network, I'm curious to know if everyone is using "audiophile" switches or if some people are using commercial switches. If you are using a switch, is it a managed switch or unmanaged switch? If you are using a managed switch, can you tell us what is involved in the initial software setup and if you have to "manage" the switch after the initial setup?
Click to expand...

I have used managed switches and unmanaged switches. Both of them are commercial switches (that is, not "audiophile" switches). My current switch is a managed Netgear Nighthawk. Once you assign your priorities for data flow you do not have to touch it anymore. Details on that switch (including set up and installation are included in the link below).


Archimago's Musings: MUSINGS/MEASUREMENTS: Netgear Nighthawk S8000 (and audiophile ethernet switches)
 
Thanks for the info Nicoff. With only 3 items on my network (Roon Nucleus+, DSJ, and the Nethear router), how do you know how to assign the resources?
 
mep said:
Thanks for the info Nicoff. With only 3 items on my network (Roon Nucleus+, DSJ, and the Nethear router), how do you know how to assign the resources?
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I would set the Roon Nucleus+ to high priority. Because that is where the music is streaming from. And if you are connecting your DAC to another music source (other than Roon), you can set both ports to high priority. The truth is that you will be using less than half of the ports available in this 1G switch. And since you are not using this switch for internet gaming or 4k video streaming, you will not be taxing the switch very much at all.
 
nicoff said:
I would set the Roon Nucleus+ to high priority. Because that is where the music is streaming from. And if you are connecting your DAC to another music source (other than Roon), you can set both ports to high priority. The truth is that you will be using less than half of the ports available in this 1G switch. And since you are not using this switch for internet gaming or 4k video streaming, you will not be taxing the switch very much at all.
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Some more info How to enable Quality of Service (QoS) on routers using the NETGEAR web interface? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
 
For what it's worth I have been using a Melco S10 with its dedicated LPS. Pretty big upgrade compared to the S100 with LPS that itself was significantly better than the Etheregen in my system.

I use the S10 sandwiched between 2 Shunyata Omega Ethernet cables and the result is impressive. Not sure it can get much better than this really.

Cheers,
Bernard
 
I'm using a TP-Link T1600G-28TS switch. I think they call it "smart managed," meaning it has some management options, but not as many as fully managed switches. It got it because it seems to have the needed features of the Netgear gaming router mentioned by audio writers, but at a far lower cost.

It lets me set the connection to my audio streamer (Auralic Aries G1) as the highest priority, so that when someone else in the house is watching Netflix, I never get a dropout.

I am unconvinced of the utility of "audiophile" boutique network switches. I do use an EMO Ethernet isolator in the line to my streamer. It is supposed to filter noise and provide surge protection. I couldn't hear any difference, but I keep it in the circuit for the surge protection.

I honestly believe that boutique switches are just another thing to keep the chatter going, the magazines humming, and audiophiles separate from their money.
 
I actually have two switches on my network, however they are simply used to add extra ports, which really is the purpose of a switch in the first place.

The house is pre-wired with ethernet cables extending out of the network panel box to various rooms throughout the house. The cable modem connects to the Asus high end router within the box (which also provides WiFi through the house). I then have the four rooms I want active on the network plugged into the router.

In my office the network connection panel hooks to a switch (10/100/1000) so that the solar panel connection, main printer and my main computer can connect to the network via ethernet.

I have another small switch (10/100/1000) in the bedroom so that the Smart TV and NAS can attach to the network. It was simply a convenient place to locate the NAS. The NAS is used as a backup drive and noting else.

It is also important to use 10/100/1000 switches to allow for the full Internet speed to route through the switches.
The couple other rooms active on the network use single ports (Smart TV in the living room for example).

Since music does not travel through my network for playing (all my music is stored locally on the server PC) having a higher level or "audiophile" switch is completely not necessary. If I were using music going through then network then I would assume an audiophile level router would be as important as a switch since it is the gatekeeper to the entire network, and no I cannot recommend any of these since I have not research them what so ever.
 
Mike-48 said:
I'm using a TP-Link T1600G-28TS switch. I think they call it "smart managed," meaning it has some management options, but not as many as fully managed switches. It got it because it seems to have the needed features of the Netgear gaming router mentioned by audio writers, but at a far lower cost.

It lets me set the connection to my audio streamer (Auralic Aries G1) as the highest priority, so that when someone else in the house is watching Netflix, I never get a dropout.

I am unconvinced of the utility of "audiophile" boutique network switches. I do use an EMO Ethernet isolator in the line to my streamer. It is supposed to filter noise and provide surge protection. I couldn't hear any difference, but I keep it in the circuit for the surge protection.

I honestly believe that boutique switches are just another thing to keep the chatter going, the magazines humming, and audiophiles separate from their money.
Click to expand...




I'm trying to decide if any type of switch adds anything positive on a closed small network like I have in my stereo room. I did a cheap experiment and I bought an unmanaged Netgear switch which I plugged into my Netgear router. I then connected the Nucleus+ and my DSJ into the switch. This setup is one example of what I call digital dingleberries because I don't need the switch for my network to function. The switch didn't last long in my network because it seemed to suck some of the life out of the music and my sound quality suffered as a result. After I removed the switch the music returned.
 
mep said:
[/B]

I'm trying to decide if any type of switch adds anything positive on a closed small network like I have in my stereo room. I did a cheap experiment and I bought an unmanaged Netgear switch which I plugged into my Netgear router. I then connected the Nucleus+ and my DSJ into the switch. This setup is one example of what I call digital dingleberries because I don't need the switch for my network to function. The switch didn't last long in my network because it seemed to suck some of the life out of the music and my sound quality suffered as a result. After I removed the switch the music returned.
Click to expand...

Exactly. If you do not require extra ports then a switch servers absolutely no purpose and adds extra equipment for the signal to pass through. The one item that I do not see talked about much is an audiophile router (if they exist), since if these audiophile grade network items are important for music then the router would be the most important since it is the gateway and nothing, no signal at all, passes through the network without being controlled by the router.
 
Randy Myers said:
Exactly. If you do not require extra ports then a switch servers absolutely no purpose and adds extra equipment for the signal to pass through. The one item that I do not see talked about much is an audiophile router (if they exist), since if these audiophile grade network items are important for music then the router would be the most important since it is the gateway and nothing, no signal at all, passes through the network without being controlled by the router.
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BINGO thats the way I look at it. But then you have a Modem , ya got to have a modem to get that internet signal from the ISP . But then again , in the US, the modem you chose if you don't rent it, must be approved by the ISP. (the modem MAC address is the only data asked for by cable providers but some ISPs may also ask for the serial number of the device for activation.) Where is the " audiophile modems, the audiophile routers "\?, do these " internet switches fix a poor signal, . I still see garbage in garbage out.
 
Randy Myers said:
Exactly. If you do not require extra ports then a switch servers absolutely no purpose and adds extra equipment for the signal to pass through. The one item that I do not see talked about much is an audiophile router (if they exist), since if these audiophile grade network items are important for music then the router would be the most important since it is the gateway and nothing, no signal at all, passes through the network without being controlled by the router.
Click to expand...

Don't be surprised if audiophile routers appear soon. We already have audiophile switches so I would think routers can't be far behind. Parts of the high end industry are always developing solutions in search of a problem which sometimes goes hand in hand with the law of unintended consequences. One example is power cord connectors that are so massive (very important you know) they won't stay plugged into your gear or your wall outlet. That led to the invention of what I termed cable bras. You actually have a device that supports your power cord connectors so they won't pull out of your gear or wall. And then we have the audiophile wall outlet vendors that have convinced some audiophiles that not only do you need their outlets, you need their very special and expensive plate covers to go with their wall outlets. Some audiophiles even swear that the torque value you use on your fancy outlet plate matters greatly to the final sound of your system. Who knew that wall outlet plates were supposed to be torqued?
 
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